Multiple outlet receptacle and mountings therefor

ABSTRACT

A wiring device of the type which by itself is configured for surface mounting is made more universally mountable by an adapter plate to which the device may be joined and the adapter plate joined to any of a number of different outlet box configurations. In addition and alternatively, a wiring device so described may be further utilized with a portable box on which it is mounted, which portable box has sidewalls with cord openings communicating to the device. All such configurations are designed for compactness and shallowness from a front face which may provide a plurality of outlet openings. In addition, the wiring device of the present invention utilizes a snub hole wiring termination configuration that facilitates installation.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to electrical wiring devices and particularly tounitary receptacles having multiple outlets and to mounting arrangementsfor such receptacles.

In Wiley U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,799, Apr. 22, 1986, there was presented amultiple outlet receptacle of which a specific embodiment disclosed hasfour outlets to permit four electrical appliances to be plugged in atone receptacle location. The receptacle may be used, for example, foroffice lighting applications where it would normally be installed in aceiling recess fixture, such as an outlet box or concrete ring, or someother surface mounting. The receptacle is designed to have a shallowbody of molded insulating material with an integral mounting flange atthe rear edges of the body. Internal contact elements of the fouroutlets are located within the housing portion of the body and the frontface has plug blade receiving apertures for communicating with theinternal contact elements. A rear closing plate of insulating materialis configured to fit within the back edge of the housing portionsubstantially flush with the mounting flange and provides asubstantially planar rear surface for the entire unit.

In the exemplary receptacle of the patent, the internal contacts extendforwardly from first and second conductive plates that rest within thehousing. A first conductive plate is configured as a ring and is locatednear the periphery of the unit while the second conductive plate isconfigured to fit within the aperture of the first plate and can be madefrom the same piece of starting material as the first plate. Each platesupports a contact element for each of the four receptacles that isaligned with a plug aperture in the front face. For a groundingreceptacle, a third group of internal contact elements is included thatis attached to a third conductive plate that is located on the outside,rearward, surface of the closing plate and extends through apertureswithin the closing plate.

The description of receptacles of the aforementioned patent isincorporated herein by reference. Such receptacles have been successfulin providing compact, reliable, attractive, and easy-to-use multipleoutlet receptacles, particularly in a surface mounting arrangement.

While not limited in all respects to the same exact form of receptacleas aforementioned but taking such a multiple outlet receptacle as anexample, the present invention has objectives which include furthervariations for mounting such receptacles and particularly in embodimentswhich permit the flush mounting of such a receptacle, as opposed tomerely surface mounting, either with a conventional outlet box or a newportable box also included as part of the present invention.

By achieving a flush mounted arrangement for an outlet box it ispossible to provide such a receptacle for general household as well ascommercial use in situations where otherwise cumbersome cube taps andthe like have been commonly used. One such situation would be that for atelevision set, video cassette recorder, and a lamp, all at a commonlocation.

One aspect of the present invention is a wiring device adapter platethat is for mounting an electrical wiring device such as a multipleoutlet receptacle with an electrical outlet box. The wiring device is,generally, one having contact elements within a housing of moldedinsulating material that is otherwise separately usable for mounting ona surface. The adapter plate comprises a major plate portion and a rimextending around the periphery of the major plate portion and extendingforward therefrom, providing a shallow recess for accommodating andmatching in lateral extent a wiring device with which the adapter plateis to be used. The rim, for example, may just accommodate a flange of amultiple outlet receptacle as illustrated in the aforementioned Wileypatent and may further have an extent from front to back substantiallymatching that of the edge of the flange with which it is matched.

The adapter plate also includes means for facilitating the fastening ofthe wiring device to the adapter plate. This means may, for example, bea pair of fastener bosses, integrally molded with the rest of the plateand diagonally disposed thereon that include fastener apertures. Theadapter plate also includes means for facilitating the fastening of theadapter plate to an electrical outlet box or the like. The latter meansincludes fastener apertures variously located so as to permit mountingto one or more different types of electrical outlet boxes. For example,in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the fastenerapertures, provided as the means for facilitating the fastening of theadapter plate to and electrical outlet box, include apertures locatedfor facilitating the fastening of the adapter plate to a single gangoutlet box while other fastener apertures are located for facilitatingthe fastening of the adapter plate to a two-gang electrical outlet boxof a first configuration as well as apertures for facilitating thefastening of the adapter plate to a two-gang electrical outlet box of analternative configuration.

The major plate portion of the adapter plate has an opening thereinconfigured to allow wiring from an outlet box to extend through theadapter plate to a wiring device when used therewith. The opening forthe wiring may be, in one example, a substantially rectangular openingwith a rearward extending guide wall that fits within and facilitatesthe location of the adapter plate with a single-gang outlet box.

Fastener bosses on the major plate portion of the adapter plate, whetherfor use in facilitating fastening of a wiring device to the adapterplate or for facilitating fastening of the adapter plate to an outletbox, are provided that extend upwardly from the major plate portion to acommon height less than that of the rim of the adapter plate. Suchfastener bosses are configured to support, in use of the adapter plate,a wiring device used therewith and, particularly, in one form of theinvention, to achieve a substantially flush relationship of the mountingflange of a wiring device, as described above, with the rim surface.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a wiring device portablebox for use with an electrical wiring device of the type having contactelements within a housing of molded insulating material otherwiseseparately usable for mounting on a surface. The portable box comprisesa back and sidewalls upstanding from the back and defining asubstantially rectangular box with an open front, all of moldedinsulating material. At least one opening is provided within thesidewalls for use as a cord passage and the portable box furtherincludes means for facilitating the fastening of the wiring device tothe portable box, such as a pair of diagonally disposed fastener bosseshaving fastener apertures.

The cord passages preferably include a pair of openings each havinginternally adjacent cord grip configurations integrally molded with theback and sidewalls of the box. Each of the cord grip configurationspreferably comprises a partial cylindrical surface extending from theopening into the box for accommodating a cord in an orientationsubstantially parallel to the box back and a front edge at the inner endof the partial cylindrical surface extending upwardly therefrom.Additionally, the box comprises for each of the cord gripconfigurations, an upper clamp of separately molded insulating materialthat is secured thereto for retention of the cord therein against thefront edge.

In one form the sidewalls of the portable box are configured to supportthe lateral edge of the wiring device without appreciable overlap.

Alternatively, the portable box may be configured so that the sidewallsaccommodate the wiring device and that the wiring device is supported ina manner such as on fastener bosses, all similarly to that describedabove with respect to the adapter plate, so that a substantially flushmounting of the wiring device within the portable box may also beachieved in those instances where the wiring device includes a mountingflange. Where the wiring device does not include a mounting flange, arecessed orientation may still be desirable and may be accomplishedconsistent with the general aspects of the present invention. Theportable box is provided with one or more openings in the back thereoffor optional use in fastening of the box to an underlying support.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention the wiring deviceitself, namely a multiple outlet receptacle generally in accordance withthe above-mentioned Wiley patent, is modified and improved by havingcontact elements attached to the respective conductive plates by beingstaked thereto, avoiding the necessity of riveting or the like as usedheretofore, and also by having terminals on the back surface of thedevice for wiring connections that are symmetrically disposed about thecenter point of the back surface of the device for facilitating wiringthereto.

Additionally, a wiring device in accordance with the present invention,whether a multiple outlet receptacle or some other device is providedwhich comprises an insulating housing containing contact elements andhaving a number of wiring terminations accessible on the exterior of thehousing, each of the wiring terminations comprising a screw terminal ina contact plate to which one or more of the contact elements are joinedand, proximate to the screw terminal, an aperture through the contactplate for receiving a wire conductor, the plate aperture being locatedover a compartment within the housing bounded by one or more insulatingwalls integrally molded with the housing. This compartment is configuredfor slidably receiving a length of wire conductor to facilitateinstallation by use of a technique of inserting a conductor into theaperture and compartment and then wrapping a turn of the conductoraround the screw terminal and tightening it. The compartment preferablyhas a cross-sectional dimension that is small relative to the depth ofthe compartment to help retain an inserted conductor therein. While sucha wiring termination feature (which may be referred to as a "snub-hole"termination) is quite useful in relation to a multiple outlet receptacleof the type particularly described, it is not limited thereto.

Each of the foregoing features contribute to enhancing the flexibilityof use of wiring devices, particularly multiple outlet receptacles, sothat they can be applied in a greater variety of mounting arrangementswith reliability and attractiveness.

THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a wiring device, adapterplate, and an outlet box combination in accordance with one embodimentof the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded, perspective views illustrating alternativemounting arrangements with various outlet boxes of an adapter plate inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an adapter plate as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3taken on a central plane such as IV--IV as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of a wiring device and portablebox combination in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a portable box of the type shown in thecombination of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a rear plan view of a wiring device in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8A is a view of the device of FIG. 7 with the back cover plate andground contact plate of the device removed so as to view the innercontact plates;

FIG. 8B is a side elevation view of part of the contact structure ofFIG. 8A;

FIG. 8C is a view of the elements of FIG. 8B at an interim stage ofassembly and,

FIG. 9 is an exploded, perspective view of partial elements of a wiringdevice illustrating wiring terminations in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a wiring device 10 is shown which is of the typehaving contact elements within a housing of molded insulating material.In this embodiment the wiring device 10 is a multiple outlet receptaclegenerally in accordance with the above-mentioned Wiley patent andfurther illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9 herein which will besubsequently described. FIG. 1 shows the wiring device 10 in combinationwith a wiring device adapter plate 30 which is for mounting with anelectrical outlet box of various types. A combination with one type ofelectrical outlet box 50, a conventional single gang outlet box for aduplex receptacle, is illustrated in FIG. 1.

In this embodiment the wiring device 10 has a shallow depth compared toits width, and has a front face 12 in which the plug apertures 14 forall of the outlets appear. The front face 12 has an overallconfiguration that is substantially rectangular with rounded corners.Additionally, the wiring device 10 illustrated has extending from itscontact housing 10a a mounting flange 10b integrally molded with thehousing. The mounting flange 10b also has a substantially rectangularconfiguration with rounded corners. Other configurations for the wiringdevice 10, with or without a mounting flange, are suitable for use inthe practice of the invention involving the use of a wiring deviceadapter plate 30 as shown. The wiring device 10 is one mountable byitself in certain configurations on a surface, such as by use offasteners through apertures 16 in the illustrated flange 10b, now mademore flexible and multifunctional by use of the adapter plate 30.

The adapter plate 30 has means for facilitating attachment of the wiringdevice 10 thereto which, in this embodiment, comprises fastener bosses36 diagonally disposed therein extending from a major plate portion 32.The fastener bosses 36 have apertures 36a receptive of fasteners 16athat extend through the similarly oriented apertures 16 of the wiringdevice 10.

The adapter plate 30 as mentioned comprises a major plate portion 32from which the fastener bosses 36 for mounting the wiring device 10extend. The adapter plate 30 also has a rim 34 extending around itsperiphery and extending forward therefrom and providing a recess foraccommodating and substantially matching in lateral extent a wiringdevice used with the adapter plate.

In this embodiment the rim 34 of the adapter plate 30 is intended to fitaround the edge of the wiring device such as around the edge of themounting flange 10b of the depicted device 10. In alternativeembodiments it is suitable to have an adapter plate to which a wiringdevice is mounted on a surface, such as the rim surface, without beingnested therein. In any of its configurations, the adapter plate 30allows an ultimate combination in which the adapter plate holds thewiring device and there is a multiplicity of alternative means forfastening the adapter plate to a variety of outlet boxes or the like aswill be further described.

In this embodiment the adapter plate has a central aperture 38 ofgenerally rectangular configuration which, as shown in FIG. 4, also hasa rearwardly extending guide wall 40. The central aperture 38 is forpermitting wires 52 from an outlet box 50 to extend through the adapterplate 30 to be joined with the wiring device 10 on its rear surface. Theconfiguration of the aperture 38 and the presence of the rearward guidewall 40 are not critical but the configuration as shown helps generallylocate the adapter plate 30 in combination with a single-gang outlet box50 wherein the guide wall enters within the box edge 54. Also the guidewall 40 helps by providing smooth surfaces across which the conductorspass.

The adapter plate 30 of FIG. 1 has five different means for facilitatingthe attachment of the plate to an outlet box. Such means, in thisexample, comprise fastener apertures of certain locations, in pairs. Afirst pair of fastener apertures 42 are centrally located in the majorplate portion 32 and match the configuration of the single-gang outletbox 50 for mounting a single duplex receptacle as shown in FIG. 1;screws 42a pass through apertures 42 into the corresponding apertures ofthe outlet box.

The adapter plate 30 also includes a pair of apertures 44 within themajor plate portion 32 diagonally disposed for facilitating the mountingof the plate a two-gang outlet box 51 as is illustrated in FIG. 2.Alternatively, an additional pair of fastener apertures 46 on the otherdiagonal as compared to the pair 44 are also useful for mounting to sucha two-gang device; any or all four of apertures 44 and 46 may be used.

In the illustrated adapter plate 30 fastener bosses 47 in the upper leftand lower right corners are provided in a configuration that allows twoalternative pairs of fastener openings 48 and 49. A pair 48 inward fromthe rim 34 are oriented for use with a four-inch conventional outletbox. This particular form of outlet box is not illustrated in thedrawing. Such an outlet box is also one to which the wiring device 10,can be directly mounted using its fastener apertures 16. Thus one seesthat the adapter plate 30 not only allows mounting to different forms ofoutlet boxes than the wiring device itself may be mounted but alsoallows mounting to some of the same forms of outlet box configurationsbut with a different result in appearance, namely the achievement of aflush mounting as opposed to surface mounting

The plate portion 32 also has a pair of apertures 49 that extendpartially within the rim 34 of the device and are used as shown in FIG.3 for the type of outlet box 53 known in the trade as the 4-11/16 inchessquare outlet box, which has more common usage in Canada than in theUnited States. (The four inch box referred to in the preceding paragraphis similar to the box 53 but with somewhat different overall size andfastener location).

The fastener bosses 36 and 47 are all disposed with their front surfacesin a common plane so that when the wiring device 10 is inserted withinthe recess afforded by the rim 34, those bosses support the device, inthis case the flange lOb of the device, with the upper or front face ofthe flange substantially flush with the face of the rim.

It is further noted that the fastener bosses 47 include recesses aboutthe apertures 48 and 49 such that the fasteners used to mount the plateto an outlet box are recessed away from the plane referred to on whichthe flange of the wiring device rests.

The adapter plate 30 may be configured with a plurality of differentmeans for facilitating mounting of a wiring device so as to accommodatedifferent wiring devices. That is, if wiring devices become availablewith fastener apertures disposed in a somewhat different pattern thanthose of the illustrative embodiment, an adapter plate may be readilyconfigured to permit mounting thereto.

It will be incidentally noted that the illustrated wiring device 10 hasoptional fastener openings 18 in locations that match those of atwo-gang outlet box or an octagon ring.

FIG. 5 illustrates a combination of a portable box 80 and a wiringdevice 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The portable box 80 herein is one specifically configured for use withan electrical wiring device 10 of the type illustrated having contactelements within a housing of molded insulating material and otherwiseseparately useful for mounting on a surface. The portable box 80 isconfigured for stand-alone use, i.e., not for mounting within a wall asis an outlet box. The portable box 80 (also see FIG. 6) has a back 82and sidewalls 84 upstanding from the back and defining a box of moldedinsulating material with an open front. There is at least one opening 86within the sidewalls 84 for use as a cord passage. In this embodimentthere are two openings 86 in diagonally opposite corners of the portablebox 80 for feed-through applications. The portable box 80 also has meansfor facilitating the fastening of the wiring device to the box. In thisinstance that means comprises fastener apertures 88 provided at opposingdiagonal corners of the portable box 80 to mate with the fasteneropenings of the illustrative wiring device 10.

When only a single opening 86 is provided in the sidewalls 84 for use asa cord passage, the box 80 suffices to permit connection of the wiringdevice 10 to conductors without feedthrough. In the illustrativeembodiment of FIG. 5, the two openings 86 allow wiring to the devicewith feedthrough.

The illustrative box 80 itself is further illustrated in FIG. 6. Each ofthe pair of openings 86 has an internally adjacent cord gripconfiguration 90 integrally molded with the back 82 and sidewalls 84.Each of the cord grip configurations 90 comprises a partial cylindricalsurface 91 extending from the opening 86 into the box for accommodatinga cord in an orientation substantially parallel to the box back. In thisembodiment that surface has a rib 92 extending transversely across.There is also a front edge 93 at the inner end of the partialcylindrical surface 91 extending upwardly therefrom. In addition the box80 comprises for each of the cord grip configurations 90 an upper clamp94 (FIG. 5) of separately molded insulating material that is securedthereto for retention of a cord 95 therein against the front edge 93.The clamp 94 is engaged to the core grip 90 by fasteners 96. The upperclamp 94 fits within the front lip or edge 93. When a cord 95 is inplace and the fasteners 96 are tightened, the clamp 94 bears down on thecord and holds it securely between the clamp and the front lip. Thefront of the clamp 94 and the front edge 93 may each have a partialarcuate portion that accommodates the cord 95.

In the embodiment shown the molding of the insulating material for box80, such as a thermoplastic material, is facilitated by avoiding thicksections of material, hence the occurrence of the empty compartments 97and apertures 98 or partial apertures that are merely intended to allowuniform and quick curing.

The portable box 80 may be configured with fastener apertures 99 in theback wall 82 for optional use in securing the box to another surface.When that is done, of course, the box 80 ceases to be portable, althoughit again becomes so if unfastened.

In the embodiment illustrated the device 10 sits on the edge ofsidewalls 84 without overlap beyond the sidewalls. This is a preferredarrangement. It is also possible for the device 10 to extend within thesidewalls 84 in the manner of the rim 32 of the adapter plate 30, ifdesired. The configurations of the box 80 and device 10 may be otherthan the generally rectangular shapes shown, such as a more circularconfiguration or perhaps even an approximately triangular configuration.

The portable box 80 is readily distinguished in its characteristics froma conventional electrical outlet box used for wall installation. It isshallow to a marked extent having a lateral extent, such as diagonallyacross the illustrated embodiment, that is several times (e.g. at leastabout five times) greater than its depth. It serves as an electricallyinsulated shroud for the wiring joined to the wiring device 10 withwhich the box 80 is combined and allows portability in the use of thatdevice while preserving safety and good appearance.

In the illustrated embodiment, the box 80 is so shallow that the cordopening 86 encompasses a substantial part, more than half, of thesidewall 84 in which it occurs. The portable box 80 shown is notintended for or configured for receiving within it common wiring devicessuch as a conventional wall switch or duplex receptacle. It is uniquelyconfigured for use in association with wiring devices such as thatillustrated that are otherwise surface-mountable, that is, by mountingin configurations not involving location within a conventional outletbox. In particular, the portable box 80 is most suitable for use with ashallow multi-outlet wiring device 10 as illustrated and one in whichthe edge of the wiring device, in this case the edge of the mountingflange 10b, closely matches the front of the portable box sidewalls 84.

Certain aspects of the wiring device 10 per se have been modified andimproved in relation to that of the above-mentioned Wiley patent. Thesewill now be described.

FIG. 7 shows a back view of the wiring device 10. In common with thepreviously patented device, a back insulating cover 19 fits within anopening of the main housing portion 10a and, when assembled, provides asubstantially flush surface. Likewise in common with the previouslypatented device, a ground plate 20 is located on the exterior of theback cover 19, assisted by certain locator channels 19a of raisedinsulating material. Fasteners 21 extend through the grounding plate 20and the back cover 19 into the interior of the device 10 which hasfastener bosses (not shown) receptive of such fasteners. The groundingplate 20 has a grounding screw 22 for a ground wire connection.

Additionally, the back cover 19 has openings 19b accessing terminalscrews 23 for connection to the internal contacts. Access is alsoprovided to break-off tabs 24 are provided to allow the device to beused as two separate pairs of receptacles on separate circuits.

In contrast to the previously patented embodiment, the wiring terminalscrews 23 are all located symmetrically about the center point of theback surface of the device 10 to simplify wiring connections. Inaddition, the terminal screws 23 associated with wiring terminations areof a novel and very efficient design involving a snub hole configurationwhich will be further described in detail subsequently in connectionwith FIGS. 8A and 9. In FIG. 7 it is seen that adjacent each of theterminal screws 23 is an aperture 23a through the contact plate to whichthe terminal screw is joined.

In FIG. 8A certain features are shown that are common with theembodiment depicted in the aforementioned patent. The internal powercontacts of the device are attached to contact plates that include acentral plate 60 with a contact 61 for each of the four outlets, and aperipheral surrounding plate 62 with an additional contact 63 for eachof the four outlets, the peripheral plate having the optional breakawaytabs 24. Each of the contacts 61 and 63 extends frontwardly from theplates 60 and 62 as shown in FIG. 8A, hence they are seen only by theirstaked joints to the plates in this view.

The contact plates 60 and 62 are coplanar as in the patented embodimentand they rest on insulating support walls 64 that occur in the moldedhousing 10a of which a limited part is apparent in this view. Further, aportion of an insulating housing wall 65 extends between the coplanarplates 60 and 62 and with it compartments 66 are illustrated throughwhich the ground contacts attached to the ground plate 20, which hasbeen removed in this figure, are accommodated.

Among the differences from the embodiment of the former patent are thathere the contact elements 61 and 63 are each attached to theirrespective contact plates by staking. In the embodiment of the patentconventional riveted contacts were used. In the present embodiment thestaked contacts 61 and 63 are each an integral unit comprising, as shownin FIG. 8B, a pair of facing spring elements 61a and 61b through, whicha plug blade passes, and also a third transverse spring element 61c.This configuration ensures tight reception and retention of the plugblades. By "staking" is meant the technique utilizing a tab on one piecethat is inserted through an aperture of a second piece and then struckto deform the tab so it grips the underside of the second piece. Hereeach spring element 61a and 61b has a tab that extends through a hole inthe plate. FIG. 8C shows tab 61d inserted through the contact plate andnot yet deformed. Tab 61d has an aperture 61e. In FIG. 8B, the tab hasbeen struck (peened or swaged) to be deformed to the resultingconfiguration where portions 61f grip the plate.

Furthermore in the view of FIG. 8A are shown snub holes 67, throughplates 60 and 62, adjacent to each of the terminal screws 23. Now withreference to FIG. 9 there will described the snub hole wiringtermination technique as is used for each of the wiring terminations ofthe device 10. Illustrated in FIG. 9 is part of the back cover 19 andpart of one of the contact plates such as the inner contact plate 60which rests on insulating support walls 64 within the housing 10a asillustrated.

The screw terminal 23 itself extends through threads 68 in the contactplate 60 into a compartment 69 in the base 10a which is merely intendedto accommodate, and avoid interference with, the screw. The contactplate snub hole 67 is aligned with a housing snub hole 70 which, in thisexample has an entrance portion 70a of a first diameter and an innerportion 70b that has a smaller diameter but is sufficient to accommodatewires to be used with the wiring device, such as numbers 14 or 16stranded or solid, or number 12, solid.

The snub hole and mounting base configurations in association with thescrew terminal 23 in the flat contact plate 60 is advantageous inallowing quick wiring by merely going through a simple procedure. Themethod is to first insert the end of a wire conductor 71 into the snubhole 67 and then snub hole 70 as far as it will go, then wrapping thewire about the screw terminal 23 in a partial turn, as shown, andtightening the screw. The use of the snub hole 70 means that the wireremains reasonably secure while the wrapping of the partial turn aboutthe screw terminal is performed and, of course, the tightening of thescrew completes the connection. If desired for any purpose, more than apartial turn of wire about the screw may be performed.

The snub hole wiring technique as employed in the multi-outlet devicedepicted can be applied generally to wiring devices and is not limitedto the specific embodiment or any embodiment as described herein. It isparticularly suitable where a terminal screw is located in a flatcontact plate supported on insulating walls of a housing.

It is therefore seen that a wiring device, such as a multiple outletreceptacle, can be made of improved design and with a variety ofmounting configurations provided by the adapter plate and portable boxdescribed. Other modifications may be made in accordance with thegeneral description herein.

What we claim is:
 1. A wiring device adapter plate for mounting to an electrical outlet box an electrical wiring device of the type having contact elements within a housing of molded insulating material, said electrical wiring device being otherwise separately usable for mounting on a surface, which adapter plate comprises:a major plate portion; means for facilitating the fastening of the wiring device to the adapter plate; means for facilitating the fastening of the adapter plate to any of a plurality of electrical outlet box configurations including fastener apertures located for facilitating the fastening of the adapter plate to a single gang outlet box; said major plate portion having a rim extending around and forward therefrom providing a recess for accommodating said wiring device with which the adapter plate is to be used; said major plate portion also having a substantially rectangular opening therein with a rearwardly extending guide wall that fits within, and facilitates location of the adapter plate with, a single gang outlet box, said substantially rectangular opening being configured to allow wiring from the outlet box to extend through the adapter plate to a wiring device when used therewith.
 2. A wiring device adapter plate for mounting to an electrical outlet box an electrical wiring device of the type having contact elements within a housing of molded insulating material, said electrical wiring device being otherwise separately usable for mounting on a surface, which adapter plate comprises:a major plate portion; means for facilitating the fastening of the wiring device to the adapter plate; means for facilitating the fastening of the adapter plate to any of a plurality of electrical outlet box configurations; said major plate portion having a plurality of fastener bosses extending upwardly therefrom to a common height less than that of a rim extending around and forward from said major plate portion, said fastener bosses configured to support, in use of the adapter plate, a wiring device used therewith; said fastener bosses including a first pair of diagonally oriented bosses serving as said means for facilitating the fastening of the wiring device to the adapter plate; said fastener bosses also including a second pair of bosses diagonally oriented oppositely to said first pair and serving as, at least part of, said means for facilitating the fastening of the adapter plate to a 2-gang electrical outlet box.
 3. A wiring device adapter plate in accordance with claim 2 wherein:said major plate portion has a substantially rectangular opening therein with a rearwardly extending guide wall that fits within, and facilitates location of the adapter plate with, a single gang outlet box, said substantially rectangular opening being configured to allow wiring to extend through the adapter plate to a wiring device when used therewith; said major plate portion further having fastener openings for fasteners to join the adapter plate to a single gang outlet box.
 4. A wiring device adapter plate in accordance with claim 3 wherein:said major plate portion has additional fastener openings for fasteners to join the adapter plate to a 2-gang outlet box.
 5. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination for mounting with an electrical outlet box, comprising:an electrical wiring device having contact elements within a housing of molded insulating material having a lateral edge and otherwise separately usable for mounting on a surface in combination with a wiring device adapter plate in accordance with claim 1, with said lateral edge of said wiring device located within said rim of said adapter plate.
 6. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination for mounting with an electrical outlet box, comprising:an electrical wiring device having contact elements within a housing of molded insulating material having a lateral edge and otherwise separately usable for mounting on a surface in combination with a wiring device adapter plate in accordance with claim 2, with said lateral edge of said wiring device located within said rim of said adapter plate.
 7. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination for mounting with an electrical outlet box, comprising:an electrical wiring device having contact elements within a housing of molded insulating material having a lateral edge and otherwise separately usable for mounting on a surface in combination with a wiring device adapter plate in accordance with claim 3, with said lateral edge of said wiring device located within said rim of said adapter plate.
 8. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination for mounting with an electrical outlet box, comprising:an electrical wiring device having contact elements within a housing of molded insulating material having a lateral edge and otherwise separately usable for mounting on a surface in combination with a wiring device adapter plate in accordance with claim 4, with said lateral edge of said wiring device located within said rim of said adapter plate.
 9. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein:said lateral edge of said wiring device housing includes an integrally molded mounting flange of less thickness than a portion of the housing with the contact elements therein and said mounting flange rests against said fastener bosses and extends frontward therefrom so as to be substantially flush with said rim of said adapter plate.
 10. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein:said wiring device is a multiple outlet receptacle.
 11. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination in accordance with claim 10 wherein:said wiring device has four outlets comprising plug blade apertures in a front face of said housing communicating to said contact elements for each of said outlets, said plug blade apertures being configured for receiving plug blades of four angle plugs oriented in four different orthogonal directions.
 12. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination in accordance with claim 5 wherein:said wiring device has rear surface terminals located substantially symmetrically in relation to the center of a rear surface of said wiring device and said adapter plate rectangular opening is centrally located in said adapter plate so as to simplify wiring thereto.
 13. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination in accordance with claim 10 wherein:said contacts of said multiple outlet receptacle include a first group of contact elements attached to a first conductive plate configured as an apertured ring and a second group of contact elements attached to a second conductive plate that is disposed within said aperture of said first conductive plate, said conductive plates being oriented generally parallel to said major plate portion of said adapter plate.
 14. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination in accordance with claim 13 wherein:said first and second groups of contact elements are attached to said first and second conductive plates, respectively, by being staked to said plates.
 15. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination in accordance with claim 13 wherein:each of said first and second conductive plates is supported within said housing on integrally molded insulating support walls and has, at at least one location thereon, a wiring termination comprising a screw terminal and, proximate to said screw terminal, an aperture through said plate for receiving a wire conductor, said plate aperture being located over a compartment bounded by one or more of said insulating support walls, said compartment being configured for slidably receiving a length of the wire conductor to facilitate installation by use of a technique of inserting a conductor into said aperture and compartment and then wrapping a turn of the conductor around said screw terminal and tightening it.
 16. A wiring device and wiring device portable box combination comprising:an electrical wiring device having contact elements within a housing of molded insulating material otherwise separately usable for mounting on a surface; a wiring device portable box having a back and sidewalls upstanding from said back and defining a box of molded insulating material with an open front; at least one opening within said sidewalls for use as a cord passage having a respective internally adjacent cord grip configuration integrally molded with said back and said sidewalls; said cord grip configuration comprising a partial cylindrical surface extending from said opening into said box for accommodating a cord in an orientation substantially parallel to said box back and a front edge at the inner end of said partial cylindrical surface extending upwardly therefrom; said cord grip configuration also comprising an upper clamp of separately molded insulating material that is secured thereto for retention of a cord therein against said front edge; means for fastening the wiring device to the portable box comprising a pair of oppositely disposed fastener bosses to which the wiring device is fastened; said at least one opening for use as a cord passage comprising a pair of openings oppositely disposed in diagonally opposite corners of said box and said fastener bosses being located in the other diagonally opposite corners of said box, said back having an additional one or more openings for optional use in fastening of the box to an underlying support.
 17. A wiring device and wiring device portable box combination comprising:an electrical wiring device having contact elements within a housing of molded insulating material otherwise separately usable for mounting on a surface; a wiring device portable box having a back and sidewalls upstanding from said back and defining a box of molded insulating material with an open front; at least one opening within said sidewalls for use as a cord passage having a respective internally adjacent cord grip configuration integrally molded with said back and said sidewalls; said cord grip configuration comprising a partial cylindrical surface extending from said opening into said box for accommodating a cord in an orientation substantially parallel to said box back and a front edge at the inner end of said partial cylindrical surface extending upwardly therefrom; said cord grip configuration further comprising an upper clamp of separately molded insulating material that is secured thereto for retention of a cord therein against said front edge; means for fastening the wiring device to the portable box comprising a pair of oppositely disposed fastener bosses to which the wiring device is fastened, said sidewalls supporting a major extent of a total peripheral edge of the wiring device, without appreciable overlap; said wiring device having four outlets comprising plug blade apertures in a front face of said housing communicating to said contact elements for each of said outlets, said plug blade apertures being configured for receiving plug blades of four angle plugs oriented in four different orthogonal directions.
 18. A wiring device and wiring device portable box combination in accordance with claim 16 wherein:said contacts of said wiring device include a first group of contact elements attached to a first conductive plate configured as an apertured ring and a second group of contact elements attached to a second conductive plate that is disposed within said aperture of said first conductive plate, said conductive plates being oriented generally parallel to said box back.
 19. A wiring device and wiring device portable box combination in accordance with claim 18 wherein:said first and second groups of contact elements are attached to said first and second conductive plates, respectively, by being staked to said plates.
 20. A wiring device and wiring device portable box combination in accordance with claim 18 wherein:each of said first and second conductive plates is supported within said housing on integrally molded insulating support walls and has, at at least one location thereon, a wiring termination comprising a screw terminal and, proximate to said screw terminal, an aperture through said plate for receiving a wire conductor, said plate aperture being located over a compartment bounded by one or more of said insulating support walls, said compartment being configured for slidably receiving a length of the wire conductor to facilitate installation by use of a technique of inserting a conductor into said aperture and compartment and then wrapping a turn of the conductor around said screw terminal and tightening it.
 21. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination for mounting to an electrical outlet box, comprising:a wiring device that is a receptacle having four outlets with contact elements within a housing of molded insulating material having a lateral edge and otherwise separately usable for mounting on a surface; a wiring device adapter plate comprising,a major plate portion with a rim located around its periphery, means for facilitating the fastening of the wiring device to the adapter plate, means for facilitating the fastening of the adapter plate to any of a plurality of electrical outlet box configurations; the wiring device having its lateral edge located within the rim of the adapter plate; the wiring device comprising plug blade apertures in a front face of the housing communicating to the contact elements for each of the outlets, the plug blade apertures being configured for receiving plug blades of four angle plugs oriented in four different orthogonal directions.
 22. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination in accordance with claim 21 wherein:the wiring device has rear surface terminals located substantially symmetrically in relation to the center of a rear surface of the wiring device and the adapter plate has a rectangular opening centrally located in the major plate portion so as to simplify wiring to the terminals.
 23. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination in accordance with claim 21 wherein:the contacts of the receptacle include a first group of contact elements attached to a first conductive plate configured as an apertured ring and a second group of contact elements attached to a second conductive plate that is disposed within said aperture of said first conductive plate, the conductive plates being oriented generally parallel to the major plate portion of the adapter plate.
 24. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination in accordance with claim 23 wherein:the first and second groups of contact elements are attached to the first and second conductive plates, respectively, by being staked to the plates.
 25. A wiring device and wiring device adapter plate combination in accordance with claim 23 wherein:each of the first and second conductive plates is supported within the housing on integrally molded insulating support walls and has, at at least one location thereon, a wiring termination comprising a screw terminal and, proximate to the screw terminal, an aperture through the plate for receiving a wire conductor, the plate aperture being located over a compartment bounded by one or more of the insulating support walls, the compartment being configured for slidably receiving a length of the wire conductor to facilitate installation by use of a technique of inserting a conductor into the aperture and compartment and then wrapping a turn of the conductor around the screw terminal and tightening it.
 26. A wiring device and wiring device portable box combination comprising:an electrical wiring device that is a receptacle with four outlets with contact elements within a housing of molded insulating material otherwise separately usable for mounting on a surface; a wiring device portable box comprising a back and sidewalls upstanding from the back and defining a box of molded insulating material with an open front, at least one opening within the sidewalls for use as a cord passage, means for facilitating the fastening of the wiring device to the portable box; the wiring device and the portable box being fastened together using the means for facilitating the fastening; the wiring device comprising plug blade apertures in a front face of the housing communicating to the contact elements for each of the outlets, the plug blade apertures being configured for receiving plug blades of four angle plugs oriented in four different orthogonal directions.
 27. A wiring device and wiring device portable box combination in accordance with claim 26 wherein:the wiring device has rear surface terminals located substantially symmetrically in relation to the center of a rear surface of said wiring device.
 28. A wiring device and wiring device portable box combination in accordance with claim 26 wherein:the contacts of the wiring device include a first group of contact elements attached to a first conductive plate configured as an apertured ring and a second group of contact elements attached to a second conductive plate that is disposed within the aperture of the first conductive plate, the conductive plates being oriented generally parallel to the box back.
 29. A wiring device and wiring device portable box combination in accordance with claim 28 wherein:the first and second groups of contact elements are attached to the first and second conductive plates, respectively, by being staked to the plates.
 30. A wiring device and wiring device portable box combination in accordance with claim 28 wherein:each of the first and second conductive plates is supported within the housing on integrally molded insulating support walls and has, at at least one location thereon, a wiring termination comprising a screw terminal and, proximate to the screw terminal, an aperture through the plate for receiving a wire conductor, the plate aperture being located over a compartment bounded by one or more of the insulating support walls, the compartment being configured for slidably receiving a length of the wire conductor to facilitate installation by use of a technique of inserting a conductor into the aperture and compartment and then wrapping a turn of the conductor around the screw terminal and tightening it. 